Protected forest areas - lessons learned from long-term research
Harald Vacik, Session introduction
The session will focus on concepts of long-term research in protected forest areas. A specific characteristic of forest ecosystems is the long time horizon of the development cycle. Thus, monitoring and research concepts require a specific design to capture long-term ecosystem dynamics. Questions how to adapt silvicultural methods relating to climate change respectively non steady-state conditions of a continuously changing climate need long-term data as a decision basis. The workshop session will contribute also to upcoming research questions on ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation.